Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-11-17
BRIDE AND GOVERNESS.

the sweet sake of that Heaven which is
over us all
Lucy Keencs white dimpled little
hands were clasped tightly together as
she looked entreatingly into her moth
er's face.
The sleety tempest of the March
night was filing sky and air with its
wild fury, and the CLEAN from the
lighted entry, streaming out upon the
pale face Of the poor wanderer who
had fallen exhausted at the cottage
door, seemed to make itten times paler
than its usual wont. 1t was a dark
straight featured face, with purple
black masses of hair knotted back from
the temples; striking contrast to
Lucy Keenes fair skin, peachy cheeks
and gold bright curls; yet the girls
could scarcely have been year apart
in their respective ages.
Mrs Keene, a mild looking matron,
whose brown locks were threaded with
silver, stood looking on in some per-
plexity
"My darling" she answered in re-
Spouse to Lucy's earnestly spoken APP
peal, 81 am as sorry for the porting
rs you can be, but we don't even know
who'or what she is.
1--WE know that she is i'll -perishing,
it may be; we know that she is a hui
man creature like ourselves. Oh,
mamma is not that cnoughP"
And Lucy's pleadings conquered.
The next day, when Mr.. Deyereux
came rs usual to make his afternoon
call they were able to tell him all they
had themselves learned from the soft
broken English of the pretty stranger
Her name was Nita Dominique; she
was an Italian by birth, aud Just sew
enteen. Friendless and alone in her
own country, she had come to England
to seek the assistance of an uncle who
had emigrated to try his fortunes some
time previously. But instead of being
met at the steamers dock by her uncle,
she was greeted by the sad news of his
death, and found herself utterly alone
in land Of strangers.
"B she did not give up" said Lucy
growing moro earnest as she narrated
Nita's simple story to Mr.. DeyereuX;
"she was determined to earn her live
lihood somehow, and as they all told
her London was already crowded with
applicants for every sort of work. she
resolved on keeping on to the country.
But her money was spent, and the
storm came on, and, poor creature, she
was worn and wealed out, and so,
when the night came on, she fell faint
ing Mt our door, and We found her
there
''She is very Intelligent" added Mrs
Keene, "and has. she tells me, been
educated in an Italian convent wish
we could find her ii situation rs gov
erness or resident instructreSs in some
seminary or school.
Mr. DcyorcuX listened quietly, with
out expressing any opinion. He was
hale handsome man, somewhere
about forty, a rich widower, with two
or three little children, and report
spoke favorably as to the possibility
of Miss Lucy keenc being some day
promoted to 'he dignity of Mrs. Dew
ereuX, of DevereuX Terrace.
Lucy herself modest little rosebud
of creature, scarcely dared to think
of this distinction in store for her, yet
Mr., DevereuX's daily visits shed a sort
of subdued sunshine on her life
For it was quiet monotouous sort
of existence, Boosting of little variety
and less excitement, rs most lives are
when spent within the precincts of q
country village.
To this humdrum succession of days
and nights Mia Dominique came like
the gorgeous bloom of fire hearted
cactus in sober bed of daisies, or 6
meteor glowing athwart the mid-sum-
OF sttfrht aupht qlca fhof IL
new, and strange, and lovely.
Her broken English, like the hsping:
OF a child first learning to talk, hel
pretty surprise at the manners and
customs of the English, the strong af-
lection she manifested towards Lucy
Keene, aud her eagerness TO assist the
widow and her daughter in each and
every one of their household task:
very soon endeare1 her to them.
Aud even Mr.. Devereux, the staid
grave, stately man, grew to notice
Nita, and chatwth her, and be amused
with her innocent talk.
Yes, he said one night, after he
had gravely sat and watched her fol
some time, "she is beautiful; and it j,
no ordinary type of loneliness, either.
Lucy Keene looked up from her sew
ing, aud for monochrome moment
only-the crimson rushed to her cheek
and a keen pang seemed to pierre,
through her heart.
Am growing jealous?' she ques
toned herself, hurrying away to the
solitude of her own room. jealous
and of poor, friendless, solitary Nita
Oh, surely-surely l am not so base a.
that"
But, nevertheless, Lucy KeenC
dropped little after this, as whit,
lily droops when some unseen worm il
gnawing at its roots.
1t was n week or two after this wher
Mr.. De,ereux came into the sitting
room of the Keene cottage just ut dusk
The doors and windows stood wild,
open to admit the perfumed air anC
scent of early June, but there was NJ